Tension Between Turkey and Greece

Why in news ?

Turkey sending an exploration vessel accompanied by a Navy fleet to the disputed waters and France dispatching warships to assist Greece.

What is the dispute ?

European Union recently decided to built pipeline transportation in corporation with West Africa and West Asia from Mediterranean to Mainland of Europe.

But they kept Turkey out of the plan. This provoked Turkey. In fact the region has a historically troubled relations after the discovery of gas in the Mediterranean waters.

Historically Turkey and EU have claim over the region.

How the EU benefits from gas pipeline ?

Currently they are getting the resource from Russia. By transporting it form Mediterranean to mainland will reduce the dependency on Russia.

Besides it help EU to increase the geopolitical situation by creating East Med Gas Forum excluding Turkey.

East Med Gas Forum?

• Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan and Palestinian Authority signed in Cairo on 16 January 2019 the East Med Gas Forum (EMGF)
• It created a platform for East Mediterranean natural gas cooperation.
• Cairo will be the headquarters of the forum.

Turkey Reaction

• Challenged the pipeline project and reached an agreement with Libya. They form an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) from its southern shores to Libya’s northern coast across the Mediterranean.
• Greece announced its EEZ with Egypt, which clashes with Turkey’s zone.

Regional Issues

• Eastern Mediterranean, which is dotted with Turkish and Greek islands.
• Turkey’s survey ship plans exploration activities around Greece’s Crete Island, which lies just outside the Turkish-Libya economic zone. Greece and Cyprus call it a violation of their sovereignty.
• The plan for transporting openly challenge Turkey a vital power in the region.

What can be done – Way Forward

• The tension to be solved through diplomatic channel.
• Any project excluding Turkey will affect the regional peace. The solution can be a mutually understating between two parties with the involving EU and other powers in the region.

NB : this is an evergreen topic for aspirant. It always have some kind of development. Follow the news for updates.

Source : PIB

Topic

Prelims : Countries bordering the region, East Med Gas Forum.

GS III : International Relation

Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal Issue

Why in News?

Punjab would burn if the state is forced to share water resources with Haryana under the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal project.

Satlej issue and History

• Satluj Yamuna Link has been a burning issue between the two states.
• 214 kilometer long canal to connect the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers under construcion.
• The canal is built to draw Haryana’s share of water from the Ravi and Beas rivers.
• It was decided in 1981 that both Punjab and Haryana would construct their portions of the canal within their territories.
• Haryana completed the work and Punjab did not completed yet.
• In 2016, the Supreme Court struck down the law passed by Punjab in 2004 to end the 1981 agreement.
• In the next year Punjab asked the central government to take over the construction.
• Also a share of water is flow to other three states : Jammu and Kahsmir, Rajastha and Delhi.

Why Punjab Opposing

• Punjab feels it utilised its precious groundwater resources to grow crop.
• In July 1985, the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and the then SAD chief Harchand Singh Longowal signed an accord for a new tribunal. A few days late Longowal was assassinated by militants.
• Five years later, a chief engineer ML Sekhri and a superintending engineer Avtar Singh Aulakh were killed by militants.
• Chief Minister fears Pakistan and secessionist organisations like Sikh For Justice could exploit this and foment trouble in the state.
• Besides Punjab is facing severe water crisis due to over-exploitation of its underground.
• State wants a tribunal seeking a fresh time-bound assessment of the water availability as no scientific assessment of Punjab river water conducted.

Latest Supreme Court Decision

• Supreme Court directed the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana on July 28 to negotiate and settle the SYL canal issue.
• Both sides meets and remained inconclusive.

Source : Indian Express

Topic 

Prelims : Canal and the region

GS III : Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and institutions

National strategy for financial education released by RBI

What is the news?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the National Strategy for Financial Education 2020-25 a strategic plan for the coming five years.

Need and aim for financial education

• The aim is to develop a a population with financially awareness thereby empowering India.
• It also aims to financial literacy concepts among various sections of the population through financial education to make it an important life skill.
• It encourage savings behaviour for future.
• Helps to improving the usage of digital platform
• Providing awareness regarding the rights, duties, grievance redressal at yougner age.

About National Strategy for Financial Education

• It was released by RBI
• It has recommended a ‘5 C approach’ for dissemination of financial education in the country
  1. Content Development : Emphasis on development of relevant content in curriculum in schools colleges and training establishments.
  2. Capacity Building : Developing capacity among the intermediaries involved in providing financial services.
  3. Community Model : Positive effect of community-led model for financial literacy.
  4. Communication Strategy : Appropriate communication strategy through various digital and technology platforms.
  5. Collaboration of stakeholders : Enhancing collaboration among various stakeholders.
• This is the second one of its kind and the first NSFE was documented for 2013-18 by the National Centre for Financial Education.

About National Centre for Financial Education

NCFE is a Section 8 (Not for Profit) Company promoted by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

Aims to :

• Promote Financial Education across India for all sections of the population.
• Create financial awareness and empowerment through financial education campaigns across the country for all sections
• Its vision is financially aware and empowered India.

Source : IE

Topic

Prelims : National Centre for Financial Education, 5C, 

GS II : Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

GS III : Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.

Employment of more-women in R&D

Why in News

According to data in the Science and Technology Indicators (STI) 2018 Indian private sector research companies to employ a larger proportion of women in core research and development activities.

What the report says ?

• 341,818 scientists in R&D with nearly 2,03,759 employed by government institutions or in the higher education sector.
• Out of 20,351 women employed in private R&D companies, 15,011 were involved in R&D activities
• For every one of the 15,011 women there are six male scientists in private sector R&D establishments.
• Reason for less participation of women
  • Social pressure on women to have a family which is seen as incompatible with a professional career.
  • Discrimination due to patriarchal attitude

Source : The Hindu

Topic

GS I : Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies

Swachh Survekshan 2020 rankings

Why in News ?

Annual cleanliness survey conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) released.

Performance of cities

• Indore was ranked first as the cleanest city in the overall category this year followed
• Surat and Navi Mumbai got placed in second and third.
• Chhattisgarh got the title of cleanest state in India. 
• Ahmedabad is India’s the cleanest Mega city.
• Shajahanpur is the best city in maximum participation.
• Bihar’s Gaya with a rank of 382, is at the bottom.
• Varanasi has been ranked the cleanest among 46 Ganga towns.

About the Swachh Survekshan

• The survey, which covered 4,242 cities and saw the participation of 1.87 crore citizens, was completed in 28 days.
• Annual cleanliness survey conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• The MoHUA, which is the nodal agency for the Swachh Bharat Mission conducted first Swachh Survekshan survey to rank 73 cities in 2016.
• It was conducted based on 71 parameters, including
  • open defecation, garbage collection
  • dumpster-free street
  • beautification projects
  • public toilets and mapping of public toilets.
• Every year MoHUA awarded the title of ‘Swachh Cities’ based on their cleanliness and sanitation drives as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
• This is the fifth edition of the annual cleanliness survey of the country.
• The objective is to generating large scale citizen participation in the Mission, along with inculcating a spirit of healthy competition among cities towards becoming India’s cleanest cities.

Source : Indian Express

Topic

Prelims : About the Swachh Survekshan, Survey details

GS III : Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies

GS III : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

Revamp of Lingaraj Temple Odisha

Why in News ?

Odisha government on Monday announced to give a face-lift to the 11th century Lingaraj Temple.

About the Redevelopment

• Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved the redevelopment plan to take place over 66 acres of land surrounding the temple
• The revamping aims to increase the capacity from 15000 of 2 lakh of total frontage
• 700 crore for the temple project.
• Besides there are planning to barrier the free access between the temple and near by Bindusagar lake.

About Lingaraj Temple

• Lingaraj TempleLingaraj Temple is believed to be the oldest and largest temple of Bhubaneshwar.
• Lingaraj Temple was built by the King YaYati Keshari, who belonged to Soma Vansh in 11th century.
• It is believed that when the King shifted his capital from Jaipur to Bhubaneshwar the construction started for Lingaraj Temple.
• Term Lingaraj suggests ‘the king of Lingas, where ‘linga’ is the phallic form of Lord Shiva.
• The scripture Brahma Purana also have mentioned the Lingaraj Temple.
• Also known as ‘Ekamravan Kshetra’, in Bhubaneswar.
• The presiding deity of this temple is known as Tribhubanesvara (Bhubaneswar) from which the city has derived its name.
• The presiding deity in the Temple is known as Hari-Hara where Hari denotes Lord Vishnu and Hara meaning Lord Shiva.
• Arcitecture
  • Temple reflecting the Kalinga style of architecture.
  • Gigantic structure of about 180 feet high dominating the entire landscape at Bhubaneswar.
  • Lingaraja temple has four frontal projected sections such as the Deula, Jagamohana, Natamandira and Bhogamandapa.
  • Jagamohana (assembly hall in the temple) of the Lingaraja temple is decorated with various sculptures.
  • The images of Parvati, Ganesa and Kartikeya appear in the sanctuaries.

Criticism

Odisha and the Central government facing a massive financial burden amid COVID 19. Building the temple may increase the burden.

Source : The Hindu

Topic 

Prelims : Lingaraj Temple

GS I : Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.